FilmQ 01-Ch19: Europeans Explore the East.

The Age of the Sail in a Bi-Polar World

Your responses to these lm questions will form the foundation of, or supplement, your notes for this
lesson. The presence of (and conict between) Venice and the Ottoman Empire, Europe is being commercially
blackmailed. Enthusiastic defense of trade routes and exorbitant prices on certain goods have motivated certain
societies to seek an alternative to the Venetian/ Ottoman monopoly. Any nation wishing to bypass the growing
Ottoman military/ commercial presence would have to set their gaze toward the Atlantic, not the Mediterranean.
As Venice, over time, succumbs to the growing military might of the Ottomans, Europe turns to a new heir of the
Venetian capitalist venture. The new heir is from Iberia.

How to Use Video as a Source
Step #1: Familiarize yourself with lm questions prior to viewing the lm. By reading the questions and understanding the
vocabulary contained within, you allow yourself the luxury of viewing the lm without having to look at the questions continuously.
Step #2: View and Listen Attentively. Unlike a book, a video provides information via visual images and audio. Both forms of
data are more valuable together than separately. For example, turn the volume off on your TV during your favorite program. Then, raise the
volume while blacking out the image. Under which conditions was the data most richly delivered? Always make sure that you have
unobstructed viewing of a lm and that the sound is audible.
As you view the video, pay attention to visual and/ or audio cues that reect the issues raised by the questions below. Your
responses should incorporate video content since the lm is the source of our focus. In addition, your increasing knowledge base of World
History can help you expand contextual data in your response and provide depth to the lms content.
Step #3: Organize Your Thoughts. Unlike a book, the data from a video is often delivered at a constant rate. With a book, you
can slow your reading speed when you encounter a particular segment that is complicated. You can also turn back to a previous page to
review information. A lm is a bit different in that you may not always have the option to use slow motion or rewind. Therefore, maintaining
focus on the imagery and sound is important. Targeted Notes will reduce the amount of time youre looking away from the lm. By writing
quick and simple phrases of a few words each, you maintain greater attention to lm events. Targeted notes use key words/ phrases that will
ignite a thought or idea when you read them later. There is no concern for grammar or spelling while doing this. After the lm has ended, you
look at your targeted notes and manipulate the data to compile responses in complete sentences.
Organizational Tip: Vertically divide your sheet of paper (where youll write your responses). On the left half, take targeted notes
for each question given. After viewing the video, use the targeted notes to compose complete responses to each question (on the right half
of the sheet).

SOURCE: Millennium Video Series, The 15th Century: Century of the Sail
CNN Productions, Inc. 1999. [~10 Min.]
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Context: 15th - 16th C., Europe: Iberian Peninsula, Technology & the Age of the Sail

1. Geographically, why would Portugal be a leader in the exploration of the oceans?
2. Commercial success is often dependent on strong leadership. Who does Portugal look toward for leadership
that is in keeping with the principles of the Renaissance?
3. The Portuguese plan to sail around the southern-most tip of the African continent was a daring plan. What
motivated them? What fueled the imagination of would-be explorers? What geographic and foreign commercial
challenges faced them? Who made the quest to the East a reality?
4. Why was Portugal willing to venture into the ocean when ancient routes to the East were available?
5. To what extent was Christopher Columbus proposed plan a bold step for him and Spain?